Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5611 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Michael N. McIntyre

Urban Regional Extension Agent

Natural Resources/Home Horticulture                                               

October 6, 2009

Erase Your Fears of High Water Bills

Approximately 8 billion gallons of water are used in Alabama every day and 9 percent of Alabama`s water use comes from public supply systems.  The amount of water used in bathrooms varies from home to home and depends on the size of the family, the frequency of use, the ages of family members, and the type of water-saving devices that are installed in bathrooms. 

Toilets account for 28 to 48 percent of water used in our homes. An average toilet flush uses 5.2 gallons of water. Placing a one-pound zip lock bag with water in the toilet tank will displace about a gallon of water, thus saving a gallon of water per flush. If your home or apartment was built before 1994, you may want to consider installing a newer model, reducing your gallons per flush from 5.2 to 1.6gallons, thus saving 3.6 gallons per flush. Some companies have gone one step further by offering the dual flush, 1.6 gallons for solid waste and 0.8 gallons for liquid waste.

An average adult uses about 35 gallons in the bathtub. Showers account for 30 percent of water used in bathroom, and the average shower uses 5 gallons of water a minute. The Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 required showerheads manufactured in the United States to set a maximum water flow at or below 2.5 gallons (9.46 liters) per minute when the pressure is 40 pounds per square inch. If your home was built before 1992, you may want to replace your showerhead with a low flow showerhead.

Using a low flow showerhead and taking 3 to 5-minute showers, i.e., a minute to get wet, turn off tap, lather, and 2 minutes to rinse, could save an additional 10 gallons of water per shower.

Practicing these simple procedures can help you to conserve water, save on your water bill, and perhaps spend more money on items like fresh fruits and vegetables. The amount of water saved may seem minimal at first, but it adds up at the end of the month. Using less water means less treatment and processing at the water company. Less treatment and processing at water plants means less costs passed on to the consumer.

In the next article, find out how to conserve water in the kitchen. Also, learn more about environmental and cost-saving tips by visiting the STAR website at http://www.aces.edu/urban/STAR/ and clicking on Water Conservation Initiative.

References

Elizabeth, M. (2009). Water conservation in the bathroom. Home Institute.

Retrieved August 12, 2009, from http://www.homeinstitute.com/water-conservation-in-the-bathroom.htm.

Please check the link below.

http://www.aces.edu/crd/publications /wtrglty/wq3.pdf

Email address: mnm0001@auburn.edu

Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.